Security light with lifestyle solutions

ABSTRACT

An LED lifestyle lighting solution using microcontroller technology to control LED load for managing nighttime illumination is disclosed, wherein the nighttime illumination is divided into a first stage being a high power illumination for a preset time period and a second stage being an energy saving/security illumination. The time period of the first stage high power illumination is managed by a virtual timer which is programmable and dynamically variable according to a user&#39;s living habits and needs. The second stage energy saving illumination having four options is produced by adequate combinations of LED load dimming and motion sensor operation. The LED characterized by a limited working voltage range, namely, Vth&lt;V&lt;Vmax, makes the LED lifestyle lighting technology completely different from the technology of conventional lighting sources. The present invention provides possibility to choose among different working modes integrated in a single LED lighting device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation application of prior application Ser.No. 15/646,620 filed on Jul. 11, 2017, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. The application Ser. No. 15/646,620 isa continuation application of prior application Ser. No. 15/415,964filed on Jan. 26, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,743,495 B2. The applicationSer. No. 15/415,964 is a continuation application of prior applicationSer. No. 15/270,490 filed on Sep. 20, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,596,735B2. The application Ser. No. 15/270,490 is a continuation application ofprior application Ser. No. 15/131,448 filed on Apr. 18, 2016, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,480,129 B2. The application Ser. No. 15/131,448 is acontinuation application of prior application Ser. No. 13/974,445 filedon Aug. 23, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,351,373 B2.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a management technology for operatinglighting devices; in particular to some humanized techniques to performa programmable delay time management and the application thereof.

2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The use of motion sensor to enable a lamp to perform a transientillumination is a well-known technology. Generally, there are twopurposes for the need of a transient illumination by using a motionsensor. The first purpose is for energy saving wherein the light sourceis enabled only when the user enters the detection zone. The secondpurpose is for threatening intruders by using an instant extremevariation of luminance to achieve the objective of security guard. Thedrawback of the lighting device with the above-mentioned motion sensoris that the lighting device would keep in inactivated state and theenvironment would be dark when user is not in the detection range of themotion sensor. User is therefore not able to recognize the direction orthe location of destination. In order to overcome the above-mentioneddrawbacks, a lighting device with a motion sensor to perform two-levellighting was invented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,937 which enables a lamp toperform a low level illumination at nightfall and when a person or ananimal enters the sensing range of the motion sensor the lamp isinstantly activated to perform a high level illumination. Thus, when theuser is outside the detection range, he or she can still see the ambientlow level illumination to get a sense of direction or location ofdestination. Furthermore, a two-level security lighting device providinga timed illumination was invented in U.S. Pat. No. 7,339,471 B1 whichenables a lamp at the onset of nightfall to perform an accentillumination for a time period and the lamp is illuminated at increasedbrightness when activated by a motion sensor, wherein the time length ofthe accent illumination can be automatically adjusted for differentnighttimes due to seasonal effect when the lighting device is operatedunder a solar tracking mode.

The aforementioned two-level security lighting devices are a compromisedsolution between illumination need and security function throughout thenight time. As a matter of fact and from the perspective of lifestyleliving, the two-level security lamps in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,747,937 and7,339,471 B1 have ignored the different needs of illumination versussecurity function along the time frame during the night period. In earlyevening the general illumination is more needed than the securityfunction, while in late evening the security function is more neededthan the general illumination. The present invention is designed tooffer an improvement over the drawback of the aforementioned two-levelsolutions, such that the lamp works as a general flood light with fullillumination capacity for a preset time period in early evening whenpeople are active before it is converted to a motion sensor activatedsecurity lighting in late evening when people are ready to go sleeping.Such hybrid configuration offers many choices of lifestyle lightingswhich optimizes the functional utilization of a lighting device for bothgeneral illumination and security guard during the course of nighttimeperiod. This life style lighting solution would become even moremeaningful with the increasing popularity of the LED bulbs whichconsumes very low energy at full-power illumination in early eveningtime and also serves perfectly as a security light to warn intruders inlate evening time. Consumers will be pleased to see their outdoor spacefully illuminated at low energy cost in the early evening time whileenjoy or show off the beautiful and romantic scenery of their houses andlandscapes. It is rather interesting to compare the present inventionwith LED bulbs to the two-level halogen security lamp per U.S. Pat. No.5,747,937 which when operating at low level still consumes as much as 35watts to 40 watts while our present invention consumes only 10 watts to15 watts even at full-power illumination for the time period of earlyevening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide house owners alifestyle lighting solution catering to their living habits. In thepresent invention a lighting device is provided, wherein the nighttimeillumination of the lighting device is divided into two stages, with thefirst stage being a full-power illumination and the second stage being apower-saving/security illumination. The time point that the lightingdevice is changed from a full-power illumination to a power-savingillumination is the conversion time point, and such a conversion timepoint is creatively and uniquely designed to be programmable by theusers according to their living needs. The technology also offersselection of different time periods for performing the full-powerillumination before the lighting device being converted to thepower-saving/security illumination.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, according to anembodiment of the present invention, a lighting device is provided whichhas two working modes selectable by the user, wherein the first workingmode is a dusk-dawn mode, in which the lighting device is automaticallyturned on at dusk with a full-power illumination, and the same highlevel illumination continues until the lighting device is automaticallyturned off at dawn; wherein the second working mode is a lifestyle mode,in which the lighting device is automatically turned on at dusk toperform a full-power illumination for a preset time period and at aconversion time point the lighting device is switched from thefull-power illumination to perform a power-saving illumination untildaybreak. The time length of the preset time period is dependent on theconversion time point which is variable or programmable by appropriatemeans according to the user's need.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting deviceis constructed at least with a photo sensor, a motion sensor and amicrocontroller such that the lighting device is automatically turned onat dusk and turned off at dawn by the photo sensor, wherein during thecourse of nighttime the lighting device performs two stages ofillumination controlled by the microcontroller in such a manner that atimer embedded in the microcontroller is configured to set a conversiontime point and to control a full-power illumination or high powerillumination for a desired preset time period before being converted toa power-saving and security illumination in response to the motionsensor.

The present invention discloses a lifestyle lighting solution byconfiguring a timer in the microcontroller with at least three methodsto set the conversion time point, which are:

(1) the anytime setting, in which the user selects a conversion timepoint for the lighting device by giving a trigger signal to themicrocontroller, wherein the microcontroller recognizes the triggersignal and reacts at the moment of the selected time point by promptlyconverting the light performance from the full-power illumination to apower-saving or security illumination, and at the same time stores thisselected time point in its memory for repetitive performance at thisselected conversion time point on a daily basis until another triggersignal being given by the user to change the timer configuration;

(2) the fixed time point setting, in which the timer of themicrocontroller is programmed to be capable of tracing the nighttimeshift due to seasonal effect wherein the timer of the microcontrollerdynamically controls the duration of the full-power illumination so thatthe lighting device can switch by itself at a fixed time point from thefull-power illumination to a power-saving or security illumination;

(3) the fixed time period setting, in which the timer has a fixed timecount so that the lighting device illuminates with full power for aconstant time period before being converted to a power-saving orsecurity illumination.

When the timer is configured by the fixed time point setting, themicrocontroller with its program codes performs an automatic time shiftdetection to measure the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn so as todynamically adjust the time length of the preset time period forperforming full-power illumination. Consequently, when the timer isconfigured to be compliant with seasonal time shift, the conversion timepoint is fixed to counteract the seasonal daytime variation. Theadvantage of the present invention is obvious. For instance, if inautumn season with sunset at 6 p.m., a house owner selects a three-hourperiod for performing a full-power illumination in early evening, thelighting device will be converted to a power-saving or securityillumination year round at 9 a.m. which is a fixed conversion time pointwithout being affected by the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn. Inthe absence of such an automatic capability to detect seasonal timeshift and when in winter season, the lighting device will beautomatically turned on at around 4:30 p.m. (sunset time) and then beconverted to a power-saving illumination at 7:30 p.m. which is too earlyaccording to our living habit. This automatic adjustment of the timeperiod in performing full-power illumination also works well in extremeplaces like Greenland or Iceland.

The present invention discloses a security lighting device whichprovides at least the following variations to perform the second stageor security illumination after the conversion time point, which are:

(1) Complete cutoff; the lighting device is turned off completely at theconversion time point through the rest of nighttime and at dawn thelighting device is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitive performance.Thus, at dusk the lighting device is again turned on automatically toperform a full-power illumination for a preset time period and at thesame conversion time point is again turned off completely accordingly.

(2) Low level illumination; the lighting device is switched to a lowlevel illumination throughout the rest of nighttime. At dawn thelighting device is turned off and reset to enter a new cycle ofrepetitive performance. Thus, at dusk the lighting device is againautomatically turned on to perform a full-power illumination andcontinues until reaching the same conversion time point at which thelighting device is switched to a low level illumination accordingly.

(3) Complete cutoff coupled with motion sensor activated illumination;the lighting device is switched to complete cutoff at the conversiontime point and at the same time enters a standby status to await thedetection signal from the motion sensor. When a body motion is detected,the motion sensor activates the lighting device to perform a full-powerillumination only for a short time period until the motion detectionsignal disappears. At dawn the lighting device is reset to enter a newcycle of repetitive performance. Thus, at dusk the lighting device isautomatically turned on and continues until reaching the conversion timepoint at which the lighting device is switched to complete cutoff andenters a standby status to await the detection signal from the motionsensor accordingly.

(4) Low level illumination coupled with motion sensor activatedillumination; at the conversion time point the lighting device isswitched to a low level illumination and at the same time enters astandby status to await the detection signal from the motion sensor.Whenever a body motion is detected, the motion sensor activates thelighting device to perform a full-power illumination only for a shorttime period until the motion detection signal disappears. At dawn thelighting device is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitive performance.Thus, at dusk the lighting device is automatically turned on for afull-power illumination and continues until reaching the conversion timepoint at which the lighting device is switched to a low levelillumination and enters a standby status to await the detection signalfrom the motion sensor accordingly.

To make the lighting device of the present invention even more userfriendly, the present invention also provides home owners additionalsolution of being able to choose different working modes designed in atdifferent time or on different occasions. For example, in a multi-modelighting device wherein two or three working modes are built into onesingle lighting device using the microcontroller technology, the usercan select one of the multi-modes for performance by using a controlsignal to alternately change the working mode or using control signalsof different format and different binary patterns to activatecorresponding working modes. The multi-modes always includes a basicdusk-dawn mode and the above mentioned lifestyle security modes foruser's selection and the high power illumination mode.

The present invention further provides a lighting device constructedwith a motion sensor and a microcontroller such that instead of using aphoto sensor the lighting device is automatically turned on at dusk andturned off at dawn by the program codes of the microcontroller, whereinduring the course of nighttime the lighting device has at least twoworking modes selectable by the users. In order to perform theaforementioned lifestyle mode without using photo sensor, the user takesan initial setting process to input at least three time parameters tothe microcontroller, namely a first preset time point to turn on thelighting device for a full-power illumination, a second preset timepoint to convert to power-saving/security illumination which beingcoupled with the motion sensor and a third preset time point to turn offthe lighting device and at the same time to reset the microcontrollerfor the next 24 hours performance cycle. Such lifestyle mode withoutreliance on a photo sensor enables the users to manage their time tableof lighting performance for both indoor and outdoor applications.

The light sources of the present invention can be incandescent lamps,fluorescent lamps, AC LED modules or DC LED bulbs. According to theembodiments of the present invention, the two-level illuminationperformance can be achieved either by dimming a single light source loador by using a double-load construction with a low-wattage and ahigh-wattage light source load such that the high-wattage light sourceload is always activated by the motion sensor and the low-wattage lightsource load is automatically turned on and off with or without the photosensor. The lighting device with lifestyle illumination management istherefore different from the dusk to dawn lighting devices and thetraditional motion sensor activated security lighting apparatuses. Thepresent invention offers a versatile solution to users to manage theirnight illumination according to their life styles and living habits.

To sum up, the lighting device with programmable timer technology todynamically control full-power illumination and power-savingillumination provided in an embodiment of the present inventionintegrates multi luminance functions into one single constructionwithout resorting to complex hardware, wherein design concept withhumanized considerations is adopted.

In order to further the understanding regarding the present invention,the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations tofacilitate the disclosure of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a block diagram depicting the operationprinciple of the lifestyle lighting device according to variousembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting the lightingdevice to perform lifestyle lighting by controlling relays to transmitelectric power to two light source loads according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting the lightingdevice to perform lifestyle lighting by controlling the conduction stateof a unidirectional controllable switching unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3a schematically shows a PWM signal for controlling the conductionstate of the unidirectional controllable switching unit in the circuitdiagram of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting the lightingdevice to perform lifestyle lighting by controlling the conduction stateof a bidirectional controllable switching unit according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4a , FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c schematically show voltage signals forcontrolling the conduction state of the bidirectional controllableswitching unit and the AC electric power transmitting to a light sourceload in the circuit diagram of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a circuit diagram depicting a variation inconstruction of a lighting device with lifestyle solution.

FIG. 6a , FIG. 6b , FIG. 6c and FIG. 6d are supplemental drawingsschematically showing a V-I relationship charts (Forward Voltage vs.Forward Current) for a white LED chip.

FIG. 7 is a data sheet showing the minimum forward voltages and maximumforward voltages collected from various LED manufacturers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions areexemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the presentinvention. Other objectives and advantages related to the presentinvention will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions andappended drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram depicting the operation principle of alifestyle lighting device according to various embodiments of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a lighting device 1 of thepresent invention is composed basically of a controller unit 2,functional selection switches S1-S4 and sensor elements 3, 4, togetherwith light source loads and electric power unit not depicted here. As abasic operation, a lighting device 1 is enabled at dusk and disabled atdawn by using a photo sensor (CDS) 3 to detect daylight and to controlelectric power supply to the lighting device 1. This basic operation isreferred to as dusk-dawn mode. According to FIG. 1, the lighting device1 includes a dusk-dawn mode and a lifestyle mode, wherein a modeselection switch S1 is provided in the lighting device 1 to choosedifferent operation mode.

When operating S1 to select the dusk-dawn mode, the lighting device 1 isturned on automatically at dusk to perform a full-power illumination orhigh power illumination controlled by the controller unit 2, and thesame high level illumination continues until the lighting device 1 isautomatically turned off at dawn, and the lighting device 1 is reset toenter a new operation cycle on a daily basis; by operating S1 to selectthe lifestyle mode, the lighting device 1 is turned on automatically atdusk to perform a full-power illumination for a preset time period untilreaching a conversion time point, at which the lighting device 1 isconverted to a power-saving or security illumination controlled by thecontroller unit 2, and the security illumination continues until thelighting device 1 is automatically turned off at dawn, and the lightingdevice 1 is reset to enter a new operation cycle on a daily basis.

The lifestyle mode is characterized by a full-power illumination lastingfor a preset time period which is measured between the turn-on timepoint of the lighting device at dusk and the conversion time pointcontrolled by a virtual timer in the controller unit 2. Referring toFIG. 1, a functional switch S2 is provided in the lighting device 1 inorder to set the conversion time point or the preset time period by atleast three methods, which are: (1) the anytime setting, for selectingan arbitrary conversion time point by the user; (2) the fixed time pointsetting, for enabling the lighting device 1 to have a conversion timepoint without being affected by seasonal effect; and (3) the fixed timeperiod setting, for selecting a constant time period. More detailsregarding each setting method will be described later with the help ofcircuit diagrams. In short, the illumination performance of thelifestyle lighting device 1 during the course of nighttime is divided bya conversion time point into two stages, with the first stage being afull-power illumination and the second stage being a power-saving orsecurity illumination controlled by the controller unit 2. Theconversion time point which is dynamically variable or programmableaccording to the user's demand is the key technology for the lifestylelighting solutions.

The lighting device 1 furthermore provides four options for the secondstage power-saving or security illumination in order to extend itsutility. As depicted in FIG. 1, a functional switch S3 is introduced forthis purpose. The lighting device 1 can perform at the second stage withone of the two illumination types selectable by operating a functionalswitch S3, which are:

(1) Complete cutoff (0), wherein at the conversion time point thelighting device 1 is turned off completely through the rest ofnighttime. At dawn, the lighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycleof repetitive performance;(2) Low level illumination (L), wherein at the conversion time point thelighting device 1 is switched to perform a low level illumination,generally at 30% or less of the full-power illumination. The low levelillumination continues through the rest of nighttime. At dawn, thelighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitiveperformance.

Moreover, referring to FIG. 1, a functional switch S4 is connected to amotion sensor 4. When the switch S4 is short-circuited, the motionsensor 4 is coupled to the controller unit 2 and the lighting device 1can perform at the second stage with one of the other two illuminationtypes selectable by operating the switch S3 as depicted in FIG. 1, whichare:

(3) Complete cutoff coupled with motion sensor activated illumination(H, 0), wherein the lighting device 1 is turned off completely at theconversion time point and at the same time enters a standby status toawait the detection signal from the motion sensor 4. When a body motionis detected, the lighting device 1 reacts by changing its illuminationfrom off-state (0) to a full-power illumination (H) for a short timeperiod and then returns to the standby status with a complete off state.This illumination type is also referred to as a motion sensor activatedsingle-level illumination which continues until dawn. At dawn, thelighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycle of repetitiveperformance;(4) Low level coupled with motion sensor activated illumination (H, L),wherein at the conversion time point the lighting device 1 is switchedto perform a low level illumination, generally at 30% or less of thefull-power illumination, and at the same time enters a standby status toawait the detection signal from the motion sensor 4. When a body motionis detected, the lighting device 1 reacts by changing its performancefrom a low level illumination (L) to a full-power illumination (H) for ashort time period and then returns to the standby status with a lowlevel illumination. This illumination type is also referred to as amotion sensor activated two-level illumination which continues untildawn. At dawn, the lighting device 1 is reset to enter a new cycle ofrepetitive performance.

Based on the operation principle depicted in FIG. 1, the lighting device1 of the present invention has three variations in time period settingfor performing the full-power illumination and four variations inillumination types of the power-saving or security illumination. Thelighting device 1 offers therefore twelve different combinations oflifestyle lighting solutions or lifestyle lighting management for indoorand outdoor applications. It provides flexibility for designinglifestyle solutions by combining an appropriate numbers of theaforementioned variations into a lighting device. For instance, alighting device can be so constructed without a photo sensor such thatit is turned on manually by operating a wall switch, performs at thefirst stage a full-power illumination for a fixed time period and thenat the second stage a motion sensor activated single-level illumination.

Referring to FIG. 1, according to various embodiments of the presentinvention, the operation of the lighting device 1 is automaticallyconducted by the controller unit 2 in response to the sensor elements 3,4 to perform a lifestyle illumination which is divided into two stagesduring the course of entire nighttime. The controller unit 2 isresponsible for a lifestyle solution wherein parameters for differenttimed illuminations are preset and programmed through the functionalselection switches S1-S4 which are also referred to as external controlunits or external control means. In practice, the controller unit 2 hasan internal timer circuit to perform different timed illuminations. Theexternal control units S1-S4 can be constructed in form of electronic ormechanical means to generate external control signals to performfunction selection or timer setting for the controller unit's operation,wherein the external control signals can be in form of constant voltageor a binary voltage signal with a low and a high voltage recognizable bythe controller unit 2 to change the working mode or to activatecorresponding timer circuit setting.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows schematically a circuitdiagram for technically implementing a lighting device 1 according toFIG. 1 of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, aconventional AC/DC converter generates a DC voltage VDD as the workingvoltage for the lighting device 10. A photo sensor CDS 3 is provided todetect daylight and to control the supply of VDD to the lighting device10. In the daytime, because the photo sensor 3 has a small resistance,the NMOS transistor M3 is turned off and simultaneously the PMOStransistor M4 is turned off completely to prohibit supplying VDD to thelighting device 10. In the nighttime, because the photo sensor 3 has alarge resistance, the NMOS transistor M3 is turned on and simultaneouslythe PMOS transistor M4 is turned on heavily to supply VDD to thelighting device 10. Therefore, the lighting device 10 is automaticallyenabled at dusk and disabled at dawn by the photo sensor 3. At dusk thelighting devices 10 begins to work. Referring to FIG. 2, the lightingdevice 10 has a microcontroller 22 as the controller unit 2 to controlthe electric conduction state of the relay modules 5 a, 5 b fortransmitting electric power to the light source loads 6 a, 6 b,respectively. The microcontroller 22 incorporating with a photo sensor 3and a motion sensor 4 controls the illumination of the light sourceloads 6 a, 6 b to perform one of two working modes, which are dusk-dawnmode and lifestyle mode. In the lifestyle mode the microcontroller 22performs illumination divided into two stages according to propersettings of a delay timer in the microcontroller.

In the following, the description is referred to the lighting device 10being enabled by the photo sensor 3 through the entire nighttime.Referring to FIG. 2, the microcontroller 22 has the connection pinsP0.0-P5.4 as input and output ports respectively to receive externalcontrol signals from the external control means S21-S25 and to delivercontrol voltages to a controllable switching unit consisting of therelay modules 5 a, 5 b to transmit electric power to the light sourceloads 6 a, 6 b.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the working mode selection isdone by operating the external control means S21 which, for instance, isa toggle switch with one end connected to the ground and with anotherend via a resistor connected to VDD and also connected directly with thepin P1.2 of the microcontroller 22. By short-circuiting S21 a zerovoltage signal appears at P1.2, otherwise the pin P1.2 is held at a highvoltage. The microcontroller 22 with its program codes scans constantlythe electric potential at P1.2 for working mode decision. If a zerovoltage is detected at P1.2, for instance, it is interpreted by themicrocontroller 22 as an external control signal for dusk-dawn mode. Themicrocontroller 22 runs in response to the external control signal asubprogram to execute the dusk-dawn mode. At the dusk-dawn mode, themicrocontroller 22 delivers automatically at nightfall through its twopins P0.0 and P1.0 a high voltage to turn on the NMOS transistors M1 andM2, wherein the two relay modules 5 a,5 b are short-circuited totransmit electric power to the two light source load 6 a,6 b such as toperform a full-power illumination; the full-power illumination issustained by a high voltage at the pins P0.0 and P1.0 until daybreakwhen the working voltage VDD is cutoff by the photo sensor 3, whereinthe microcontroller 22 is reset to enter a next operating cycle on adaily basis. The pin RST connected with resistor/capacitor R2/C2 isreserved for power reset when the microcontroller 22 starts its programon next day.

Referring to FIG. 2, the microcontroller 22 with its program codes scansthe electric potential at P1.2 for working mode decision. If a highvoltage is detected at P1.2, for instance, it is interpreted by themicrocontroller as an external control signal for lifestyle mode. Themicrocontroller runs in response to the external control signal asubprogram to execute the lifestyle mode. In the lifestyle mode, themicrocontroller 22 delivers automatically at nightfall through its twopins P0.0 and P1.0 a high voltage to turn on the transistors M1 and M2and also simultaneously the two relay modules 5 a, 5 b, wherein the twolight source load 6 a, 6 b are turned on to deliver a full-powerillumination; the high voltage at the pins P0.0 and P1.0 is sustainedfor a preset time period controlled by a timer embedded in themicrocontroller 22 until reaching a conversion time point, at which themicrocontroller 22 with the pin P1.0 remaining at a high voltage, forinstance, delivers however a zero voltage to the pin P0.0 to turn offthe NMOS transistor M1 and hence also to turn off the correspondinglight source load 6 a, such that the lighting device 10 has itsluminance changed from a full-power intensity to a lower power intensitywhich is referred as a power-saving illumination; the power-savingillumination continues until daybreak when the working voltage VDD iscutoff by the photo sensor 3, wherein the microcontroller 22 is reset toenter next operating cycle.

As mentioned previously, the lighting device with lifestyle solutions ischaracterized by a proper conversion time point or a proper preset timeperiod for performing full-power illumination catering to user's livinghabits. Referring to FIG. 2, the microcontroller 22 has pins reservedfor connecting with the external control means S22, S23 and 23 toreceive external control signals or trigger signals for selecting methodto set the conversion time point or the time period for performingfull-power illumination, wherein the setting is made through configuringa virtual timer which is based on executing a long delay time subroutineof the microcontroller program codes or by using auxiliary counter forlong time counting. For the lifestyle mode, the timer in themicrocontroller 22 can be configured by at least three methods whichare:

-   -   (1) the anytime setting,    -   (2) the fixed time point setting, and    -   (3) the fixed time period setting.

The anytime setting can be done, for instance, in a convenient way bymanually operating a wall switch or a main power switch at any clocktime when the user wants to choose a desired conversion time point, forinstance, going to sleep. Referring to FIG. 2, a main power switch S5connected between the lighting device 10 and an AC power VAC is used todo the anytime setting. To detect the anytime setting, a samplingcircuit 23 consisting of resistors R4 and R5 is connected with one ACpower line, wherein the sampling output is connected to a pin P5.4 ofthe microcontroller 22. When the AC power is shut down by operating themain switch S5, a zero voltage appears at the sampling circuit 23 andhence also at the pin P5.4. In FIG. 2, a large capacitor EC 25 isprovided to hold VDD voltage for keeping the microcontroller 22 still inoperation when the AC power is turned off momentarily. The anytimesetting is accomplished when the user turns off momentarily and within apreset instant time interval, for instance, 1-2 seconds, turns back onthe power switch S5 at a selected time point. If the microcontroller 22with program codes scans constantly the electric potential at pins anddetects at the pin P5.4 momentarily a zero voltage caused by thiselectric power disruption event, the microcontroller 22 recognizes it asan external trigger signal for the anytime setting. The microcontroller22 reacts at the moment of receiving the trigger signal by promptlyconverting the lighting performance from a full-power illumination to apower-saving illumination and at the same time stores the selected timepoint information into its memory. The time point of the anytime settingserves as a new conversion time point for repetitive performance on adaily basis until another trigger signal or external control signalbeing received by the microcontroller.

Besides the aforementioned electric power disruption method, the anytimesetting can also be done by operating an external control means, forinstance, a toggle switch, which is connected between the ground and apin of the microcontroller, not shown in FIG. 2. The anytime setting istriggered by the user at a desired conversion time point by momentarilyshort-circuiting the toggle switch, wherein a short-duration zerovoltage appears at the pin of the microcontroller. At the moment whenthe user operates the toggle switch for the anytime setting byshort-circuiting it and within a short time restoring it toopen-circuit, the microcontroller 22 with program codes detectstherefore at the pin connected with this toggle switch an instant zerovoltage wherein the microcontroller 22 recognizes it as an externaltrigger signal for the anytime setting and reacts at the time point ofreceiving the trigger signal by promptly converting the lightingperformance to a power-saving illumination and at the same time storesthe selected time point information into its memory for repetitiveperformance on a 24-hours basis, as afore described.

The fixed time point setting is done by engaging an external controlmeans connected to the microcontroller. Referring to FIG. 2, a toggleswitch S23, for instance, serves as an external control means which isconnected between one pin P2.0 of the microcontroller 22 and the ground.The fixed time point setting is selected by short-circuiting the switchS23, wherein a zero voltage appears at the pin P2.0. The microcontroller22 with program codes scans constantly the electric potential at pins.If a zero voltage is detected at the pin P2.0, the microcontroller 22interprets it as an external control signal for the fixed time pointsetting, wherein the microcontroller 22 runs a subroutine of the programcodes to count a time delay t_(D) for performing the full-powerillumination, such that

t _(D) =t _(o)+(T−12)/2,

where t_(o) is a constant in the subroutine, representing one of timelengths selectable to the users as the basis for making seasonal shiftadjustment, T is a mean value of night time lengths collected frommeasurement of at least three consecutive days with the help of photosensor 3 and processed by the program codes of the microcontroller. Thefixed time point setting is valid for repetitively performing thelifestyle mode on a daily basis until other setting method is done byengaging proper external control means.

The fixed time point setting enables the microcontroller with itsprogram codes to counteract the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn soas to dynamically adjust the time length of the preset time period forperforming a full-power illumination. For instance, a three-hour timeperiod is normally preset in the subroutine, for which the constantt_(o)=3. If in spring season with sunset at 6 p.m., then T=12 for thenighttime, the lighting device will be converted to a power-saving orsecurity illumination at 9 p.m. which is a conversion time point withoutbeing affected by the seasonal time shift of dusk and dawn. With thefixed time point setting, if in summer season with sunset at 8 p.m.,then T=8 for the nighttime, t_(D)=3+(−2)=1, the lighting device will beconverted to a power-saving or security illumination at 8 p.m.+t_(D)=9p.m.; if in winter season with sunset at 4 p.m., then T=16 for thenighttime, t_(D)=3+(2)=5, the lighting device will be converted to apower-saving or security illumination at 4 p.m.+t_(D)=9 p.m.Consequently, when the timer program of the microcontroller isconfigured to be compliant with seasonal time shift, the conversion timepoint is fixed despite the seasonal daytime variation. This fixed timepoint setting is different from the method used in the prior art U.S.Pat. No. 7,339,471 B1 where the duration of illumination is determinedbased on a predetermined fraction of the recorded length of nighttimefrom previous night and consequently the time point of conversion maychange during different seasons.

The fixed time period setting is done by engaging external control meansconnected to the microcontroller. Referring to FIG. 2, two toggleswitches S22 serves as external control means which are respectivelyconnected to pins P2.1 and P2.2 of the microcontroller 22 and theground, for respectively setting 6-hour (6H) and 3-hour (3H) timeperiod. The fixed time period setting is selected by short-circuitingone switch, for instance, the switch 6H, wherein a zero voltage appearsat the pin P2.1. The microcontroller 22 with program codes scansconstantly the electric potential at pins. If a zero voltage is detectedat the pin P2.1, the microcontroller 22 interprets it as an externalcontrol signal for the fixed time period setting, wherein themicrocontroller 22 runs a subroutine of the program codes to count atime period of 6 hours, such that the full-power illumination continues6 hours before the lighting device 1 being converted to a power-savingillumination. By analogy, if a zero voltage is detected at the pin P2.2when the toggle switch 3H is short-circuited, the microcontroller 22runs a 3-hour delay time subroutine to enable a full-power illuminationfor 3 hours. The fixed time period setting is valid for repetitivelyperforming the lifestyle mode on a daily basis until other settingmethod is done by engaging proper external control unit.

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, when the lighting device 10operates in the lifestyle mode by open-circuiting the mode selectionswitch S21, the illumination of the lighting device 10 is divided by aconversion time point into two stages, with the first stage being afull-power illumination and the second stage being a power-savingillumination. To make the security light versatile, the lighting device10 of the present disclosure furthermore provides four options for thesecond stage energy-saving illumination by modifying the microcontrollerprogram codes to take account additional external control signals whichwill be described as follows.

The four options at the second stage illumination can be done by usingtwo light source loads 6 a, 6 b of different power levels andincorporating with a motion sensor 4. For instance, the load 6 a is ahigh-wattage light source and 6 b is a low-wattage one. In FIG. 2, amotion sensor 4 is connected to the pin P1.3 of the microcontroller 22.In addition, two toggle switches S24, S25 serve as external controlmeans to make four different illumination types selectable by generatingcontrol signals respectively sent to the pins P2.3 and P2.5 of themicrocontroller 22. The external control means S24, S25 can be sodesigned, for instance, S24 controls the coupling between themicrocontroller 22 and the motion sensor 4, and S25 controls theillumination level of the lighting device. As depicted in FIG. 2, when atoggle switch S24, S25 is closed or short-circuited, a zero voltageappears at the corresponding pin which can be recognized and interpretedby the microcontroller 22 as external control signal to execute acorresponding illumination type. By operating the external control meansS24, S25 properly, the microcontroller generates with program codes,either reacting to or disabling the motion sensor 4, a zero or a VDDvoltage at the pins P0.0 and P1.0 respectively to control the luminanceof the two light source loads 6 a, 6 b. The luminance intensity of thelighting device 10 is controlled by the electric voltages at the pinsP0.0 and P1.0, for instance: With zero voltage at both P0.0 and P1.0 isa darkness state (0); with zero voltage at P0.0 and VDD at P1.0 is a lowlevel illumination (L); with VDD at both P0.0 and P1.0 is a high levelor full-power illumination (H).

Referring FIG. 2, incorporating with the external control means S24, S25and the motion sensor 4, the microcontroller 22 runs subroutines inresponse to the external control signals for the second stagepower-saving illumination, which are:

(1) Complete cutoff (0), for instance, by opening both the switch S24and S25, wherein the second stage illumination is darkness (0) bydisabling the motion sensor 4 throughout the rest of nighttime;(2) Low level illumination (L), for instance, by opening the switch S24and by closing the switch S25, wherein the second stage is a low-levelillumination and disabling the motion sensor 4 throughout the rest ofnighttime;(3) Single-level illumination coupled with motion sensor (H, 0), forinstance, by closing the switch S24 and by opening the switch S25,wherein the illumination is changed from darkness (0) to ahigh-intensity brightness (H) in response to the motion detectionsignal;(4) Two-level illumination coupled with motion sensor (H, L), forinstance, by closing both the switch S24 and S25, wherein theillumination is changed from a low (L)- to a high (H)-intensityluminance in response to the motion detection signal.

In view of FIG. 2, the light source loads 6 a, 6 b can be incandescentlamps, fluorescent lamps, AC LED modules or LED bulbs which areconnected via relays 5 a, 5 b to an AC power. FIG. 2 depictsschematically a lifestyle lighting device 10 which performs two-levelillumination based on a double-light source load structure comprising alow-wattage and a high-wattage light source load such that thehigh-wattage light source load 6 a is activated by the motion sensor 4and the low-wattage light source load 6 b is automatically turned on andoff by the photo sensor 3. In fact, there is no restriction imposed onthe type and the number of the light source loads. The operationprinciple of a lifestyle lighting device according to FIG. 1 can beequally applied to a single light source load, driven either by DC poweror AC power, wherein the lighting device performs a two-levelillumination at the second stage by dimming technique which will bedescribed as follows.

Referring to FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the lighting device 11 is equipped with a light-emittingdiode (LED) module 36 connected in series with a NMOS transistor M 35and a DC power source. Comparing with the embodiment of the presentdisclosure depicted in FIG. 2, the LED module 36 is a single lightsource load and the transistor M 35 is a unidirectional controllableswitching unit. Besides the difference in light source structure anddriving power source, the lighting devices 11 adopts the same controllerstructure including a photo sensor 3 and a motion sensor 4 as shown inFIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the microcontroller 22′ runs programs in response tothe external control signals or trigger signals generated from theexternal control means S21-S25, 23, S5 in the same manner as describedfor the circuit diagram sketched in FIG. 2.

Refer to FIG. 3. By operating the control unit S21 to select the workingmode, the lighting device 11 performs dusk-dawn mode and lifestyle mode,respectively, through the luminance control of the LED module 36. In thelifestyle mode the lighting device 11 performs the full-powerillumination for a preset time period and is converted into thepower-saving illumination at a conversion time point controlled by adelay timer in the microcontroller 22′. By operating the control meansS22, S23, S5 properly, the delay timer of the microcontroller 22′ isconfigured by one of the three setting methods, which are the anytimesetting, the fixed time point setting and the fixed time period setting,in order to execute the corresponding delay time subroutines.Furthermore, by operating the external control means S24, S25 properly,the lighting device 11 performs the energy-saving or securityillumination at the second stage to generate one of four differentillumination types which are complete darkness, low-power illumination,motion sensor activated single-level and two-level illumination.

Referring to FIG. 3, the NMOS transistor M 35 has its drain connected tothe LED module 36 and its gate connected with one pin P1.0 of themicrocontroller 22′. The microcontroller generates with program codes inresponse to the external control signals a series ofpulse-width-modulation (PWM) signals at the pin P1.0. FIG. 3a representsthe waveform of a PWM signal which has a low voltage and a high voltagewithin the period T_(o), wherein the high voltage is characterized by atime length T₁. The ratio of T₁ to namely, T₁/T_(o), is referred to asthe duty cycle of the PWM signal. The PWM signal generated at the pinP1.0 is fed to the control gate of the unidirectional control switch 35,wherein the transistor M 35 is turned on during the time T₁ by the highvoltage such that the conduction rate of the transistor M 35 iscontrolled by the PWM signal. The duty cycle of the PWM signaldetermines an average electric power transmitting to the LED module 36.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the lighting device 11 is in lifestyle modeperforming the second stage illumination, the motion sensor activatedsingle-level illumination is performed by the microcontroller 22′ withprogram codes in response to the motion sensor 4, wherein a PWM signalof the maximum duty cycle is generated at the pin P1.0 and sent to thetransistor M 35 for controlling a maximum average electric powertransmitting to the LED module 36 so as to perform full-powerillumination, and then after a short time period a zero voltage isgenerated at the pin P1.0 to shut down the LED module 36; the motionsensor activated two-level illumination is performed by generating a PWMsignal of the maximum duty cycle for the full-power illumination andthen a PWM signal of small duty cycle for the low-power illumination.

Refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 3a . In the lifestyle mode, when the lightingdevice 11 is activated by the motion sensor to perform single-level ortwo-level illuminations, the microcontroller 22′ can be furthercontrolled by an additional external control signal to enter asubroutine to continuously vary the duty cycle of the PWM signal, forinstance by continuously varying the time length T₁ of the PWM signal inFIG. 3a , for controlling the controllable switching unit 35 to transmita continuously varying average electric power to the light source load36, such that during the varying process the luminance of the lightingdevice 11 increases slowly in intensity until a full-power illumination,what is referred to as soft on, and, after a short time interval, theluminance of the lighting device 11 decreases slowly in intensity to endthe motion sensor activated cycle, what is referred to as soft off.

Refer to FIG. 4. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure,the lighting device 12 has a light source load 46 connected in serieswith a triac Tr 45 and an AC power. Comparing with the lighting device11 as depicted in FIG. 3, the triac Tr 45 is a bidirectionalcontrollable switching unit. The light source load 46 can be a halogenlamp, an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, an AC LED module or aLED bulb. Besides the difference in the controllable switching unit 45,the lighting device 12 adopts the same controller structure as shown inFIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the microcontroller 22″ runs programs inresponse to the external control signals or trigger signals generatedfrom the external control means S21-S25, 23, S5 in the same manner asdescribed for the embodiments depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, wherein thelighting device 12 performs respectively dusk-dawn mode and lifestylemode, depending on the external control signal generated from thecontrol means S21.

Referring to FIG. 4, the microcontroller 22″ has a pin P1.0 connected toa control gate of the bidirectional controllable switching unit 45 tocontrol its conduction state for transmitting AC electric power to thelight source load 46. The voltage divider 23, with its output connectedto the pin P5.4 of the microcontroller 22″, can serve both as thesampling circuit for the anytime setting and also as azero-crossing-point detector. The anytime setting is done by operatingthe power switch S5 to generate a zero voltage for a time duration insecond range at the pin P5.4, which is detected by the microcontroller22 and interpreted as the anytime setting signal. As azero-crossing-point detector the microcontroller 22″ receives constantlyat the pin P5.4 a zero-crossing signal in millisecond range synchronizedwith the AC power.

To elucidate the use of the zero-crossing-point detector and theprinciple of controlling the bidirectional controllable switching unit,in accompanying FIG. 4, FIG. 4a , FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c representrespectively the waveforms of (a) AC power signal, (b) the phase-anglecontrol signal at the pin P1.0 and (c) the voltage signal across the twoterminals of the light source load 46. Referring to the waveforms inFIG. 4a and FIG. 4b , the microcontroller 22″ detects with the help ofthe zero-crossing-point detector 23 constantly at the pin P5.4 azero-crossing signal, not shown here, in each half period T of thesinusoidal AC power, and generates with its program codes a square wavein FIG. 4b at the pin P1.0 which is synchronized with the AC power inFIG. 4a and serves as phase-angle control signal. The square wave inFIG. 4b has its front edge lagging behind the zero-crossing point of theAC power in FIG. 4a . Referring to the waveforms in FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c, the phase-angle control signal at P1.0 triggers at its front edge thetriac 45 into conduction, wherein during the conductive period of thetriac 45 a voltage signal of the duration t_(on) appears at the twoterminals of the light source load 46 such that an average electric ACpower in proportion to the time duration t_(on) is transmitted to thelight source load 46.

Referring to FIG. 4, in conjunction with the zero-crossing-pointdetector 23, the microcontroller 22″ generates in response to theexternal control signals different phase-angle control signals at thepin P1.0 with different time lags behind the zero-crossing point, so asto control different conductive phase angles of the triac Tr 45 torespectively transmit full power, small power and no power to the lightsource load 46, such that the lighting device 12 performs full-powerillumination, low-power illumination and darkness, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4a , FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c , when the lightingdevice 12 performs single-level or two-level motion sensor activatedilluminations, the microcontroller 22″ can be further controlled byadditional external control signal to enter a subroutine of the programcodes to slowly change the conductive duration of the controllableswitching unit 45. The microcontroller 22″ with program codes generatesphase-angle control signals in FIG. 4b with its front edge shiftingcontinuously with time to continuously vary the conductive phase angleof the triac Tr 45, such that a continuously varying AC electric power,which results from a continuously varying conductive duration t_(on) ofthe triac Tr 45, is transmitted to the light source load 46, wherein,during the varying process, the illumination of the lighting device 12increases slowly in brightness till a full-power level (soft on) andafter a short time interval decreases slowly in brightness to end themotion sensor activated cycle (soft off).

The use of PWM signal and phase-angle control signal, as depictedrespectively in FIG. 3a and in FIG. 4b , to vary or to dim the luminanceof light source load, offers many variations in controlling luminancelevel of the lifestyle lighting device, which can be done simply bymodifying the program codes of the microcontroller without changing thecircuit hardware as disclosed in embodiments depicted in FIGS. 3-4. Whenthe lighting devices performs motion sensor activated two-levelillumination, the luminance intensity of the low-power illumination canbe further adjusted by using additional external control signal tocontrol the microcontroller to run a corresponding subroutine.

The lighting device according to various embodiments of the presentinvention relies on the operation of external control means to generateexternal control signals. To facilitate the operation of the externalcontrol means, user-oriented construction of the external control meansis required, wherein the external control means can be composed of pushbutton, toggle switch, infrared sensor or similar means which generatesconstant voltage or binary signal with a low and a high voltage readableby the microcontroller and interpreted as the external control signal toexecute a corresponding subprogram in the microcontroller. Furthermore,the binary signal can be a square waveform, for instance, with a smallwidth for low voltage, referred to as short-zero control signal, or witha large width for low voltage, referred to as long-zero control signal.The use of binary signal in form of short-zero and long-zero canfacilitate the selection of different working functions designed in thelighting device.

Based on the operation principle depicted in FIG. 1, there are manypossibilities to implement lifestyle solution. In accompanying FIG. 4,FIG. 5 shows schematically a circuit diagram that is in fact a variationderived from FIG. 4, wherein the photo sensor CDS 3 and the externalcontrol means S21-S25 are removed, with the exception that the mainpower switch S5 is reserved for some technical applications. In FIG. 5,the luminance of the single light source load 46 is basically controlledby different conductive phase angles of the triac Tr 45 with method asdescribed for the circuit diagram in FIG. 4. Comparing with the circuitof FIG. 4, the circuit depicted in FIG. 5 has some features deserved tobe mentioned here. Referring to FIG. 5, the lighting device 13 can be soconstructed that it has a microcontroller 22″a with program codes tocontrol its illumination, for instance, to perform a generalillumination mode and a lifestyle mode respectively by operating thepower switch S5. The general lighting mode is related to a usual on/offoperation of the switch S5, such that with the switch S5 being turnedon, the lighting device 13 illuminates with full power; while with theswitch S5 being turned off, the lighting device 13 shuts off completely.To be distinguishable from the general illumination mode, the lifestylemode is selected, for instance, by momentary turning off and turningback on the switch S5 within a preset instant time period, such as 1-2seconds. If the microcontroller 22″a with program codes detects thison-off-on operation sequence through the pin P5.4 connected to thevoltage divider 23, the microcontroller 22″a runs a correspondingsubroutine for performing the lifestyle mode, wherein the lightingdevice 13 performs a full-power illumination for a short time period,for instance, a period of five minutes, and then is converted to asingle-level or a two-level illumination activated by the motion sensor4. The simple circuit construction in FIG. 5 eliminates timer settingsand various functional selections.

The lighting device 13, as depicted in FIG. 5, can be used for generalillumination in house. It is even more favorable to design the lifestylemode by combining the aforementioned soft on and soft off techniques tothe single-level or two-level illumination activated by motion sensor.With such a lighting device 13, the house owner before sleeping cansimply operate the wall switch S5 by on-off-on actions to select thelifestyle mode; the lighting device 13 illuminates with full power for ashort time period and then enters a standby power-saving status to awaitthe detection signal from the motion sensor 4. If the house owner wakesup sometimes in the middle of the night, the soft on illuminationactivated by the motion sensor 4, wherein, instead of a sudden glaringbrightness, the luminance intensity of the lighting device increasesgradually, can make him feeling comfortable as he moves through a darkspace. The lighting device is automatically turned off softly orswitched gradually to a low level illumination after the house ownergoes back to sleep. The circuit sketched in FIG. 5 provides therefore asimple and practical lifestyle solution without the use of photo sensor.

To make the lighting device of the present invention even more userfriendly, additional lifestyle solution is provided for different timeor on different occasions. A preferable solution is for example to builda multi-mode lighting device to perform two or three working modesmerging into one single lighting device based on microcontrollertechnology, wherein the user can select one of the multi-modes forperformance by using an external control signal to alternately changethe working mode or using external control signals of different binarypatterns to activate corresponding working modes. The multi-modes alwaysincludes a basic general illumination mode (with or without photosensor) coupled with the above mentioned lifestyle security modes foruser's selection.

To extend the lifestyle solutions based on the circuit diagram depictedin FIG. 5, in which the lighting device 13 consists of a motion sensor4, a microcontroller 22″a and a plurality of external control means notshown in FIG. 5, the program codes of the microcontroller 22″a can befurther modified to realize the automatic on/off function of the photosensor such that the lighting device 13 is automatically turned on atdusk and turned off at dawn by the program codes of the microcontroller22″a, wherein during the course of nighttime the lighting device 13 hasat least two working modes selectable by the users. In order to performthe aforementioned lifestyle mode without using photo sensor, an initialsetting process is taken by the users to input at least three timeparameters, namely a first preset time point to turn on the lightingdevice for a full-power illumination, a second preset time point toconvert to a power-saving/security illumination which is activated bythe motion sensor and a third preset time point to turn off the lightingdevice and at the same time to reset the microcontroller for the next24-hour performance cycle. The users based on their living habitsoperate corresponding external control means to generate at least threetriggering signals to the microcontroller respectively at three timepoints representing the time to turn on for a full-power illumination,the time to convert to a power-saving illumination and the time to turnoff the lighting device. Upon receiving the three triggering signalsgenerated by the users, the microcontroller with program codes is ableto store the time point information and thereby establish the workingprocedures to perform the lifestyle illumination mode on a 24-hourrepetitive basis until new triggering signals are given by the user tochange the time point parameters to establish a new lifestyleillumination mode. Such lifestyle mode without reliance on a photosensor enables the users to manage their time table of lightingperformance for both indoor and outdoor applications in a more flexible,more friendly and more energy saving ways.

The automatic on/off lighting device control based on the program codesof the microcontroller also helps to improve home security from theperspective of antitheft consideration. When the home owners are awayfor business trip or vacation for a longer period of time, say a week,if the houses are always dark or lit during the night time, forinstance, the lighting device is automatically turned on and turned offby a photo sensor, it gives the intruder or thief a strong signal thatthe owners are out for a long trip and it is a good time to break in. Onthe contrary, the use of microcontroller to replace photo sensor forlighting control offers great flexibility to program a dynamically timedillumination, for instance, by adding an instant drop of illuminationfollowed by a shorter time period of full-power illumination, say 1 to10 minutes, till the second preset time point of conversion at which thelighting device being switched to a power-saving illumination. Thetemporary drop of illumination for a couple seconds serves as remindsignal telling the users it is time to rest and the short extension offull illumination simply gives the user ample time to wrap up forsleeping. If the user wants to manage the third preset time pointprecisely according to his or her living need, the above initial settingprocess for inputting three preset time points is needed. However from apractical consideration and given the fact that human being living habitis used to 6-8 hours sleep it may just be good enough to build into theprogram codes with an eight hours time delay to perform the energysaving/security mode on an automatic basis. Thus, after 8 hours from thesecond preset time point for conversion of power-saving illumination, oralternatively 12 hours from the power on time point, the microcontrollerwith program codes will turn off the light and reset for the nextoperating cycle.

Although there is no restriction on the types of light sources which canbe used for performing the technologies of the present invention, inother words incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, halogen bulbs or LEDbulbs all have been usable for performing various functions of thepresent invention, it is to be noted that in the past two years theprices of LEDs have continuously and substantially reduced and havepassed a sweet spot to trigger a humongous demand for using LED bulbs toreplace incandescent bulbs to be the main light source for generalillumination. A 6-watt LED bulb being equivalent to 60-watt incandescentbulb is now retailed at only $1 which is very affordable and attractiveto the consumers considering its energy saving advantage consuming only10% of electric power required for operating an incandescent bulb withthe same lumens output and its durability advantage lasting up to 8times of operating life for an incandescent bulb (LED can last up to20,000 hours while an incandescent bulb may only last about 3000 hours),with such big advantages over incandescent light sources the LED bulbsnow a day are dominating the light source market worldwide while theconventional light sources such as incandescent bulbs and fluorescentbulbs are becoming obsolete lighting technologies. With such arevolutionary change in the light emitting technology it is necessary tofocus the applicable light source of the present invention to the use ofonly the LED bulbs and to more precisely define a much narrower domainof claim limitations such that malfunctions of LED bulbs will not occurto affect the performance of the technologies of the present invention.This focusing and confining process to narrow down the claim scope isonly an effort to further confine the range of the working voltage forthe LED load to a much narrower domain such that the LED load can besuccessfully turned on and an occurrence of thermal runaway to damagethe semiconductor structure of the LED load can be avoided. Theelectrical characteristics of LED are totally different from theconventional light sources such as incandescent bulbs and fluorescentbulbs. Such electrical characteristics need to be added to the technicaldescription of the present invention as a necessary and important partof required technologies for successfully performing the presentinvention. In fact, any LED lighting design failing to comply withconstraints of such electrical characteristics is bound to become auseless art.

The LED bulbs or LED loads are new-generation light sources configuredwith a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light emittingdiode is made with a P-N junction semiconductor structure featured withthree unique electrical characteristics which make LED bulbs completelydifferent from the conventional light sources such as incandescent bulbsor fluorescent bulbs, the first electrical characteristic is one-wayelectric conduction through the P-N junction of the LED, the secondelectrical characteristic is a minimum threshold voltage V_(th) requiredto trigger each LED to start emitting light and the third electricalcharacteristic is a maximum working voltage V_(max) allowed to impose oneach LED to avoid a thermal runaway to damage or burn out semiconductorLED structure. An LED chip is a small piece of semiconductor materialwith at least one LED device manufactured inside the semiconductormaterial, which is a fundamental element for composing an LED load. SuchLED chip is required to operate in a voltage domain ranging from atleast 2.5 volts to at most 3.5 volts for a white or blue light LED chip;the 2.5 volts is a minimum threshold voltage V_(th) and the 3.5 volts isa maximum working voltage V_(max). A plurality of such LED chips or setsof such LED chips may be electrically connected in series to configureone LED bulb or one LED load with a higher wattage driven by a highervoltage. Such one LED load so configured is required to operate with aworking voltage V ranging from N×2.5 volts to N×3.5 volts, or N×2.5volts<V<N×3.5 volts, wherein N, with N=1, 2, 3 . . . , is the number ofthe LED chips being electrically connected in series for forming suchone LED load, wherein a plurality of serial-connected LED chips may befurther connected in parallel or a plurality of parallel-connected LEDchips may be further connected in serial for configuring a high powerLED load. For example, if N is 3 meaning that 3 pieces of the LED chipsor three sets of parallel-connected such LED chips are electricallyconnected in series to form such one LED load, the working voltage V ofsuch one LED load comprising a plurality of LED chips is then requiredto operate between a minimum threshold voltage of 7.5 volts in order tosuccessfully trigger such one LED load to emit light and a maximumworking voltage of 10.5 volts allowed to impose on such LED load toavoid a thermal runaway to damage or burn out a semiconductor LEDstructure. For an LED load configured with a plurality of the LED chipsin any LED lighting device, regardless such LED load being configuredwith AC LED chips or DC LED chips, the working voltage of each LED loadis required to operate in a domain established by a minimum thresholdvoltage N×2.5 volts and a maximum working voltage N×3.5 volts, wherein Nis the number of the LED chips electrically connected in series. For anyLED lighting device comprising an LED load it is required that the LEDload in conjunction with a power source is configured with a combinationof in series and in parallel connections such that the electric currentpassing through each LED chip of the LED load remains at an adequatelevel such that a voltage V across each LED chip of the LED loadcomplies with an operating constraint of V_(th)<V<V_(max) featuringelectrical characteristics of the LED chip, wherein V_(th) is a minimumthreshold voltage required to trigger each LED chip to start emittinglight and V_(max) is a maximum operating voltage of each LED chip of thelight emitting unit. Such narrow operating range therefore posts anengineering challenge for a circuit designer to successfully design areliable circuitry configured with an adequate combination of in seriesconnection and in parallel connection for operating a higher power LEDsecurity light.

FIG. 6a-6d are supplemental drawings schematically showing a V-Irelationship charts (Forward Voltage vs. Forward Current) for a whiteLED chip; as can be seen from the chart when a forward voltage V isbelow a minimum forward voltage at around 2.5 volts, the LED chip is notconducted so the current I is zero, as the forward voltage exceeds 2.5volts the LED chip is activated to generate a current flow to emitlight, as the forward voltage continues to increase, the current Iincreases exponentially at a much faster pace, at a maximum forwardvoltage around 3.5 volts the current I becomes 250 mA which generates aheat that could start damaging the PN junction of the LED chip. Theminimum forward voltage (the minimum threshold voltage or cut involtage) and the maximum forward voltage are readily available in thespecification sheets at each of LED manufacturers, such as Cree,Lumileds, Samsung, Osram and etc. Different LED manufacturers may haveslightly different figures due to manufacturing process but thedeviations of differences are negligible. They are necessary conditionsfor configuring any LED lighting products.

FIG. 7 is a data sheet showing the minimum forward voltages and maximumforward voltages collected from various LED manufacturers. They arefundamental requirements for configuring any LED lighting controldevices.

In summary, the above added matters contain the following inherentfacts:

-   1) The operating constraint of V_(th)<V<V_(max) featuring electrical    characteristics of the LED is inherent in the physical properties of    a P-N junction semiconductor structure.-   2) The modified claim limitations represent smaller but more solid    claim structure by including the compliance of the operating    constraint as an important part of the required technologies for    performing the present invention such that a malfunction of an LED    load can be avoided.

The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferredembodiments of the present invention; however, the characteristics ofthe present invention are by no means restricted thereto. All changes,alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilledin the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the presentinvention delineated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An LED lighting control device comprising: atleast a controllable switching element, electrically connected betweenat least an LED load configured with a plurality of light emittingdiodes and a power source; a photo sensor, for automatically enablingthe performance of the LED lighting control device at dusk and disablingthe performance of the lighting device at dawn; at least one externalcontrol device, for generating at least one external control signal forselecting and setting at least one performance mode of the LED load; anda controller, electrically connected to the at least one controllableswitching element and the at least one external control device, whereinthe controller controls a conduction rate of the at least onecontrollable switching element to transmit an average electric power tothe LED load; wherein the controller operates in response to the atleast one external control signal from the at least one external controldevice to perform a lifestyle lighting solution, wherein the LED load isautomatically switched on at dusk by the photo sensor to perform a firstillumination mode with a first illumination level for a time delay t_(D)counted by a timer embedded in the controller, and upon expiration ofthe timer the LED load is then switched to perform a second illuminationmode with a second illumination level, wherein the second illuminationlevel is either a turned off state or a low level state with a reducedlight intensity, the second illumination mode continues till daybreakwhen the photo sensor operates to switch off the LED load and thecontroller is reset for performing next operating cycle; wherein theplurality of light emitting diodes of the LED load and the level ofpower source are configured to have an adequate combination of inparallel and or in series connections such that an electric currentpassing through each LED of the LED load remains at an adequate leveland thus a voltage V across each LED of the LED load complies with anoperating constraint of V_(th)<V<V_(max) featuring electricalcharacteristics of the LED, wherein V_(th) is a minimum thresholdvoltage required to trigger the LED to start emitting light and V_(max)is a maximum operating voltage across the LED to avoid a thermal damageor burning out a semiconductor structure of the LED construction.
 2. TheLED lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein in the secondillumination mode the second illumination level is further adjustable bythe at least one external control device.
 3. The LED lighting controldevice according to claim 1, wherein in the first illumination mode thefirst illumination level is further adjustable by the at least oneexternal control device.
 4. The LED lighting control device according toclaim 1, wherein a motion sensor is further installed to connect to thecontroller, wherein at dusk the LED load is switched on by the photosensor to perform the first illumination mode with the motion sensorbeing deactivated, the first illumination mode with the firstillumination level continues for the time delay t_(D) till the LED loadis converted to the second illumination mode to perform a secondillumination level, wherein the LED load is switched either to theturned off state or to the low level state with the motion sensor beingactivated to detect any motion intrusion, wherein whenever a motion isdetected by the motion sensor, the controller immediately andresponsively manages to increase the average electric power transmittedto the LED load to perform a third illumination mode with a thirdillumination level for a short time duration before resetting back tothe turned off state or the low level state in the absence of anysucceeding motion intrusion(s).
 5. The LED lighting control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a motion sensor is further connected tothe controller, wherein the first illumination mode is a first two levelmotion sensing illumination mode and the second illumination mode is asecond two level motion sensing illumination mode; wherein at dusk theLED load is turned on by the photo sensor to perform a first low levelillumination, wherein when a motion intrusion is detected by the motionsensor, the controller instantly manages to increase the conduction rateof the at least one controllable switching element to increase theaverage electric power to the LED load to perform a high levelillumination for a predetermined time duration before resetting to thefirst low level illumination, wherein the second illumination mode is asecond two level illumination mode; wherein the LED load is switched toperform a second low level illumination, wherein the light intensity ofthe second low level illumination is lower than the light intensity ofthe first low level illumination, wherein when the motion intrusion isdetected during the second illumination mode, the controller instantlymanages to increase the conduction rate of the at least one controllableswitching element to increase the average electric power to the LED loadto perform the high level illumination for the predetermined timeduration before resetting to the second low level illumination.
 6. TheLED lighting control device according to claim 4, wherein in the secondillumination mode the second illumination level is further adjustable bythe at least one external control device.
 7. The LED lighting controldevice according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controllableswitching element is a bidirectional control switch and the power sourceis an AC power source, the controller in conjunction with azero-crossing-point detector controls different conductive phase anglesof the bidirectional control switch to respectively transmit differentaverage electric powers to the LED load in response to the externalcontrol signal from the at least one external control device to performthe lifestyle lighting solution.
 8. The LED lighting control deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the LED load is an AC light emitting diodemodule or a DC light emitting diode module bridging one port of afull-wave bride rectifier.
 9. The LED lighting control device accordingto claim 7, wherein the LED load is a screwed-in light bulb connectableto the AC power source.
 10. The LED lighting control device according toclaim 1, wherein the timer is an anytime setting subroutine enabling theuser to convert performance of the LED load from the first illuminationmode to the second illumination mode at any time point selected by theuser during the night time period by operating the at least one externalcontrol device to deliver the external control signal to the controller,wherein the controller recognizes the external control signal andaccordingly manages to promptly convert the LED load from the firstillumination mode to the second illumination mode and at the same timestores the selected time point in its memory for repetitive performanceat the selected time point on a daily basis until another externalcontrol signal is produced by the at least one external control deviceand is received by the controller for changing the selected time point,wherein at dusk the LED load is turned on automatically by the photosensor to perform the first illumination mode until reaching theselected time point to convert to the second illumination mode and atdawn the LED load is turned off with the controller being reset for thenext operating cycle.
 11. The LED lighting control device according toclaim 10, wherein for operating the anytime setting a power switchconnected in series with the LED load and the power source can beinstantly switched off and back to on for creating an instant disruptionof power supply with a duration of power disruption being shorter than apreset time interval; wherein the controller with program codes detectsthe instant disruption of electric power and interprets it as theexternal control signal for activating the timer of the anytime settingsubroutine installed in the controller.
 12. The LED lighting controldevice according to claim 1, wherein the timer is a fixed time pointsetting subroutine, wherein the timer is programmed to be capable oftracing the night time/day time shift due to seasonal effect, whereinthe timer embedded in the controller dynamically adjusts the time delayt_(D) of the first illumination mode synchronous to the seasonal shiftsuch that the LED load can be converted from the first illumination modeto the second illumination mode at the fixed time point selected by anuser by operating the relevant external control device to generate anddeliver the external control signal to the controller according to theuser's living habit, wherein the time delay t_(D) for performing andcontinuing the first illumination mode is dynamically adjusted accordingto the following formula:t _(D) =t _(o)+(T−12)/2 wherein t_(o) is a fixed length of time delayselected by the user for performing the first illumination mode duringthe seasons when the time length of night time is equal to the timelength of day time, T is a moving average of time lengths of night timemeasured by the on/off performance of the photo sensor between nightfalland daybreak; wherein the controller accordingly uses the seasonadjusted value of t_(D) to dynamically control the length of delay timefor performing the first illumination mode until being converted to thesecond illumination mode at the fixed time point.
 13. The LED lightingcontrol device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one externalcontrol device comprises a plurality of switches connected to differentpins of the controller for selecting and activating different fixed timepoint subroutines, wherein when a relevant switch is short circuited, aconstant voltage signal is generated to activate a relevant fixed timepoint subroutine to dynamically adjust the length of the time delayt_(D) according to the seasonal shift of night length.
 14. The LEDlighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the timer is afixed time period setting subroutine, selected by the user by operatingthe at least one external control device to deliver the external controlsignal to the controller, wherein the length of the fixed time period orthe duration for performing the first illumination mode is counted fromthe time point of nightfall when the photo sensor operates to turn onthe lighting device until the time point when the LED load is convertedto the second illumination mode.
 15. The LED lighting control deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the at least one external control deviceincludes a plurality of switches connected to different pins of thecontroller for selecting and activating different fixed time periodsubroutines, wherein when a relevant switch is short circuited, aconstant voltage signal is generated to activate a relevant fixed timeperiod subroutine for setting the length of the time delay t_(D),wherein the lifestyle timer of the controller is set to perform therelevant fixed time period life style lighting solution.
 16. The LEDlighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least oneexternal control device includes a wireless control device, electricallycoupled to a pin of said controller, wherein the wireless control devicereceives a wireless signal through wireless communication andresponsively generates the control signal for enabling or disabling thetimer's selection.
 17. The LED lighting control device according toclaim 16, wherein the wireless control device is a Wi-Fi wireless signalreceiver, a Bluetooth wireless signal receiver or a RF (Radio Frequency)wireless a signal receiver.
 18. The LED lighting control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said controller includes a memory forsaving or installing an application program (APP) or a software program,wherein the application program (APP) from an internet or a cloud serveris downloaded for updating the memory of the controller.
 19. A method ofconfiguring a fixed time point timer for operating a life style lightingsolution of an LED load featured with at least two illumination modesdivided at the fixed time point, comprising: using a photo sensorelectrically connected to a controller to turn on the LED load at duskto and turn off the LED load at dawn; using the controller with programcodes to trace and update daily time length data between light-on timeat dusk and light-off time at dawn controlled by the photo sensor for anumber of days on a moving average basis to continuously obtain a movingaverage value T of night time duration due to seasonal effect; using aseason adjustment algorithm programmed in the controller to dynamicallyadjust the time length of a time delay t_(D) and updating the time delayt_(D) on a periodic basis to be used for operating the life stylelighting solution according to the following formula:t _(D) =t _(o)+(T−12)/2 wherein t_(o) is a fixed length of time delayselected for performing an illumination mode during the seasons when thetime length of night time is equal to the time length of day time,wherein T is the moving average of time lengths of night time measuredby the on/off performance of the photo sensor between nightfall anddaybreak; using a controllable switching element electrically connectedbetween a power source and the LED load configured with a plurality oflight emitting diodes to control an average electrical power transmittedto the LED load for generating different illumination levels accordingto the programmed codes embedded in the controller; using the controllerto output a control signal to control a conduction rate of acontrollable switching element electrically connected between a powersource and the LED load to determine an average electric powertransmitted to the LED load for generating different illumination levelsaccording to the programmed codes embedded in the controller; using aconfiguration of in series and or in parallel connections forconstructing the plurality of light emitting diodes of the LED load suchthat when incorporated with an adequate level setting of constantvoltage(s) an electric current passing through each LED of the LED loadremains at an adequate level such that a voltage V across each LED ofthe LED load complies with an operating constraint of V_(th)<V<V_(max)featuring electrical characteristics of the LED, wherein V_(th) is aminimum threshold voltage required to trigger the LED to start emittinglight and V_(max) is a maximum operating voltage across the LED to avoida thermal damage or burning out a semiconductor structure of the LEDconstruction; wherein at dusk the LED load is switched on to perform afirst illumination mode for the time delay t_(D) and upon the maturityof the time delay t_(D) the LED load is converted to perform a secondillumination mode with a different illumination arrangement tocharacterize the life style lighting solution, wherein the seasonadjusted time delay t_(D) enables the LED load to be converted fromperforming the first illumination mode to performing the secondillumination mode at the fixed time point.
 20. The method of configuringa fixed time point timer for operating a life style lighting solution ofan LED load according to claim 19, wherein the method further includeusing an external control device to enable an user to select a t_(o) forsetting the fixed time point to convert the LED load from performing thefirst illumination mode to performing the second illumination mode,wherein the external control device comprises a plurality of switchesconnected to different pins of the controller for selecting andactivating different fixed time point subroutines, wherein when arelevant switch is short circuited, a constant voltage signal isgenerated to activate a relevant fixed time point subroutine todynamically adjust the length of the time delay t_(D) according to theseasonal shift of night length such that the LED load is converted fromperforming the first illumination mode to performing the secondillumination mode at the relevant fixed time point selected.
 21. Themethod of configuring a fixed time point timer for performing a lifestyle lighting solution of an LED load according to claim 19, wherein amotion sensor is further installed to connect to the controller toperform the life style lighting management; wherein at dusk the LED loadis switched on by the photo sensor, wherein the controller manages totransmit the average electric power to the LED load to perform the firstillumination mode with a first level illumination, wherein during thefirst illumination mode the motion sensor is temporarily deactivated,wherein at the time point when the time counting of the fixed timeperiod ends the LED load is converted to the second illumination modewith a second level illumination, wherein the controller manages toreduce the average electric power delivered to the LED load to performthe second level illumination and meantime the motion sensor isactivated for motion detection, wherein when a motion intrusion isdetected by the motion sensor, the controller instantly manages toincrease the average electric power delivered to the LED load to performa third level illumination for a short predetermined time durationbefore resetting the LED load to the second level illumination, whereinat dawn the LED load is switched off by the photo sensor.
 22. The methodof configuring a fixed time point timer for performing a life stylelighting solution of an LED load according to claim 19, wherein a motionsensor is further connected to the controller, wherein the firstillumination mode is a first two level motion sensing illumination modeand the second illumination mode is a second two level motion sensingillumination mode; wherein at dusk the LED load is turned on by thephoto sensor to perform the first illumination mode with a first lowlevel illumination, wherein during the first illumination mode when amotion intrusion is detected by the motion sensor, the controllerinstantly manages to increase the conduction rate of the at least onecontrollable switching element to increase the average electric powerdelivered to the LED load to perform a high level illumination for apredetermined time duration before resetting to the first low levelillumination, wherein at the time point when the time counting of thefixed time point timer ends, the LED load is converted to perform thesecond illumination mode, wherein the controller manages to reduce theaverage electric power delivered to the LED load to perform a second lowlevel illumination, wherein during the second illumination mode when themotion intrusion is detected by the motion sensor, the controllerinstantly manages to increase the conduction rate of the at least onecontrollable switching element to increase the average electric powerdelivered to the LED load to perform the high level illumination for thepredetermined time duration before resetting to the second low levelillumination, wherein at dawn the LED load is switched off by the photosensor.
 23. The method of configuring a fixed time point timer forperforming a life style lighting solution of an LED load according toclaim 22, wherein the second level illumination is a turned off statewith zero light intensity.
 24. The method of configuring a fixed timepoint timer for performing a life style lighting solution of an LED loadaccording to claim 21, wherein the second level illumination is a turnedoff state with zero light intensity.
 25. A method of configuring an anytime setting timer for operating a life style lighting solution of anLED load featured with at least two illumination modes divided at anytime point operated by an user, comprising: using a photo sensor, forautomatically enabling the performance of the LED load at dusk anddisabling the performance of LED load at dawn; using an external controldevice electrically connected to a controller to generate an externalcontrol signal for setting and activating an any time settingsubroutine; using an any time setting algorithm to set and operate anany time setting timer, wherein at a selected time point when the useroperates the external control device to generate the external controlsignal received by the controller, the controller operates to promptlyconvert the LED load from performing a first illumination mode toperforming a second illumination mode and at the same time memorizes thetime point for repetitive performance at the selected time point on adaily basis until another external control signal is produced by the atleast one external control device and is received by the controller forchanging the selected time point, wherein at dusk the LED load is turnedon automatically by the photo sensor to perform the first illuminationmode until reaching the selected time point to convert to perform thesecond illumination mode and at dawn the LED load is turned off with thecontroller being reset for the next operating cycle; using thecontroller to output a control signal to control a conduction rate of acontrollable switching element electrically connected between a powersource and the LED load configured with a plurality of light emittingdiodes to control an average electric power transmitted to the LED loadfor generating different illumination levels according to the programmedcodes embedded in the controller; using a configuration of in series andor in parallel connections for constructing the plurality of lightemitting diodes of the LED load such that when incorporated with anadequate level setting of constant voltage(s) an electric currentpassing through each LED of the LED load remains at an adequate levelsuch that a voltage V across each LED of the LED load complies with anoperating constraint of V_(th)<V<V_(max) featuring electricalcharacteristics of the LED, wherein V_(th) is a minimum thresholdvoltage required to trigger the LED to start emitting light and V_(max)is a maximum operating voltage across the LED to avoid a thermal damageor burning out a semiconductor structure of the LED construction. 26.The method of configuring an any time setting timer for operating a lifestyle lighting solution of an LED load according to claim 25, whereinfor operating the anytime setting a power switch connected in serieswith the LED load and the power source can be instantly switched off andback to on for creating an instant disruption of power supply with aduration of power disruption being shorter than a preset time interval,wherein the controller with program codes detects the instant disruptionof electric power and interprets it as the external control signal foractivating the timer of the anytime setting subroutine installed in thecontroller.
 27. The method of configuring an any time setting timer foroperating a life style lighting solution of an LED load according toclaim 25, wherein a motion sensor is further installed to connect to thecontroller to operate the life style lighting solution; wherein at duskthe LED load is switched on by the photo sensor, wherein the controllermanages to deliver the average electric power to the LED load to performthe first illumination mode with a first level illumination, whereinduring the first illumination mode the motion sensor is temporarilydeactivated, wherein at the time point when the time counting of the anytime setting timer ends, the LED load is converted to the secondillumination mode with a second level illumination, wherein thecontroller manages to reduce the average electric power delivered to theLED load to perform the second level illumination and meantime themotion sensor is activated for motion detection, wherein when a motionintrusion is detected by the motion sensor, the controller instantlymanages to increase the conduction rate of the at least one controllableswitch to increase the average electric power delivered to the LED loadto perform a third level illumination for a short predetermined timeduration before resetting the LED load to the second level illumination,wherein at dawn the LED load is switched off by the photo sensor. 28.The method of configuring an any time setting timer for operating a lifestyle lighting solution of an LED load according to claim 25, wherein amotion sensor is further connected to the controller, wherein the firstillumination mode is a first two level motion sensing illumination modeand the second illumination mode is a second two level motion sensingillumination mode; wherein at dusk the LED load is turned on by thephoto sensor to perform the first illumination mode with a first lowlevel illumination, wherein during the first illumination mode when amotion intrusion is detected by the motion sensor, the controllerinstantly manages to increase the conduction rate of the at least onecontrollable switching element to increase the average electric powerdelivered to the LED load to perform a high level illumination for apredetermined time duration before resetting to the first low levelillumination, wherein at the time point when the time counting of theany time setting timer ends, the LED load is converted to perform thesecond illumination mode, wherein the controller manages to reduce theaverage electric power delivered to the LED load to perform a second lowlevel illumination, wherein during the second illumination mode when themotion intrusion is detected by the motion sensor, the controllerinstantly manages to increase the conduction rate of the at least onecontrollable switching element to increase the average electric powerdelivered to the LED load to perform the high level illumination for thepredetermined time duration before resetting to the second low levelillumination, wherein at dawn the LED load is switched off by the photosensor.
 29. The method of configuring an any time setting timer foroperating a life style lighting solution of an LED load according toclaim 28, wherein the second level illumination is a turned off statewith zero light intensity.
 30. The method of configuring an any timesetting timer for operating a life style lighting solution of an LEDload according to claim 27, wherein the second level illumination is aturned off state with zero light intensity.
 31. A method of configuringa fixed time period timer for performing a life style lightingmanagement of a LED load configured with a plurality of light emittingdiodes, comprising: using a photo sensor to automatically switch on theLED load at dusk and switch off the LED load at dawn; using an externalcontrol device configured with a plurality of switches electricallyconnected to different pins of a controller for respectively selectingand activating different fixed time period subroutines, wherein when arelevant switch is short circuited, an external control signal isgenerated to the controller to activate a relevant fixed time periodsubroutine for performing the relevant fixed time period life stylelighting management; using the controller with program codes to receivethe external control signal generated by the external control deviceoperated by an user to execute the relevant fixed time period subroutineto convert the LED load from performing a first illumination mode toperforming a second illumination mode at a time point when the timecounting of the relevant fixed time period subroutine ends; using atleast one controllable switching element electrically connected betweena power source and the LED load to control an average electrical powertransmitted to the LED load for generating different illumination levelsaccording to the programmed codes embedded in the controller; using aconfiguration of in series and or in parallel connections forconstructing the plurality of light emitting diodes of the LED load suchthat when incorporated with an adequate level setting of constantvoltage(s) an electric current passing through each LED of the LED loadremains at an adequate level such that a voltage V across each LED ofthe LED load complies with an operating constraint of V_(th)<V<V_(max)featuring electrical characteristics of the LED, wherein V_(th) is aminimum threshold voltage required to trigger the LED to start emittinglight and V_(max) is a maximum operating voltage across the LED to avoida thermal damage or burning out a semiconductor structure of the LEDconstruction.
 32. The method of configuring a fixed time period timerfor performing a life style lighting management according to claim 31,wherein the second illumination mode is an arrangement wherein LED loadis in a complete turn off state.
 33. The method of configuring a fixedtime period timer for performing a life style lighting managementaccording to claim 31, wherein the second illumination mode is anarrangement wherein the LED load is dimmed to a low level state.
 34. Themethod of configuring a fixed time period timer for performing a lifestyle lighting management according to claim 31, wherein a motion sensoris further installed to connect to the controller to perform the lifestyle lighting management; wherein at dusk the LED load is switched onby the photo sensor, wherein the controller manages to transmit theaverage electric power to the LED load to perform the first illuminationmode with a first level illumination, wherein during the firstillumination mode the motion sensor is temporarily deactivated, whereinat the time point when the time counting of the fixed time period endsthe LED load is converted to the second illumination mode with a secondlevel illumination, wherein the controller manages to reduce the averageelectric power delivered to the LED load to perform the second levelillumination and meantime the motion sensor is activated for motiondetection, wherein when a motion intrusion is detected by the motionsensor, the controller instantly manages to increase the averageelectric power delivered to the LED load to perform a third levelillumination for a short predetermined time duration before resettingthe LED load to the second level illumination, wherein at dawn the LEDload is switched off by the photo sensor.
 35. The method of configuringa fixed time period timer for performing a life style lightingmanagement according to claim 31, wherein a motion sensor is furtherconnected to the controller, wherein the first illumination mode is afirst two level motion sensing illumination mode and the secondillumination mode is a second two level motion sensing illuminationmode; wherein at dusk the LED load is turned on by the photo sensor toperform a first low level illumination, wherein during the firstillumination mode when a motion intrusion is detected by the motionsensor, the controller instantly manages to increase the conduction rateof the at least one controllable switching element to increase theaverage electric power delivered to the LED load to perform a high levelillumination for a predetermined time duration before resetting to thefirst low level illumination, wherein at the time point when the timecounting of the fixed time period ends, the LED load is converted toperform the second illumination mode, wherein the controller manages toreduce the average electric power delivered to the LED load to perform asecond low level illumination, wherein during the second illuminationmode when the motion intrusion is detected by the motion sensor, thecontroller instantly manages to increase the conduction rate of the atleast one controllable switching element to increase the averageelectric power delivered to the LED load to perform the high levelillumination for the predetermined time duration before resetting to thesecond low level illumination, wherein at dawn the LED load is switchedoff by the photo sensor.
 36. The method of configuring a fixed timeperiod timer for operating a life style lighting management according toclaim 35, wherein the second level illumination is a turned off statewith zero light intensity.
 37. A lifestyle security light, comprising: alight emitting unit, including an LED load configured with a pluralityof light emitting diodes; a controllable semiconductor switching device,electrically connected between the LED load and a power source; a photosensor, for automatically enabling the operation of the lifestylesecurity light at nightfall and disabling the operation of the lifestylesecurity light at daybreak; a motion sensor, for detecting a motionintrusion; at least an external control device, for generating anexternal control signal; a time setting algorithm for determining a timepoint to switch between operating two different illumination modes; anda controller, electrically coupled with the controllable semiconductorswitching device, the external control device and the motion sensor;wherein the controller outputs a control signal to control a conductionrate of the controllable semiconductor switching device to generatedifferent illumination levels for performing at least a firstillumination mode and a second illumination mode to characterize alighting solution of the lifestyle security light; wherein the firstillumination mode is a first motion sensing illumination mode and thesecond illumination mode is a second motion sensing illumination mode;wherein in the first illumination mode the LED load is switched on atdusk by the photo sensor to generate a first low level illumination,wherein when a motion intrusion is detected by the motion sensor, thecontroller instantly manages to increase the conduction rate of thecontrollable semiconductor switching device to increase the averageelectric power delivered to the LED load to generate a high levelillumination for a short predetermined time duration before resettingthe LED load to the first low level illumination; wherein in the secondillumination mode, the controller manages to reduce the conduction rateof the controllable switching element to generate a second low levelillumination, wherein when the motion intrusion is detected by themotion sensor, the controller instantly manages to increase theconduction rate of the controllable semiconductor switching device toincrease the average electric power delivered to the LED load togenerate the high level illumination for the short predetermined timeduration before resetting the LED load to the second low levelillumination; wherein at dawn the LED load is switched off by the photosensor to end the second illumination mode; wherein when the controllerreceives the external control signal generated by the external controldevice, the controller operates the time setting algorithm to determinea preset operating time point to convert the LED load from performingthe first illumination mode to performing he second illumination mode;wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes of the LED load and thelevel of power source are configured to have an adequate combination ofin parallel and or in series connections such that an electric currentpassing through each LED of the LED load remains at an adequate leveland thus a voltage V across each LED of the LED load complies with anoperating constraint of V_(th)<V<V_(max) featuring electricalcharacteristics of the LED, wherein V_(th) is a minimum thresholdvoltage required to trigger the LED to start emitting light and V_(max)is a maximum operating voltage across the LED to avoid a thermal damageor burning out a semiconductor structure of the LED construction. 38.The lifestyle security light according to claim 37, wherein the timesetting algorithm is embedded in the controller, wherein the controlleroperates the time setting algorithm to select the preset operating timepoint to convert the lighting performance of the lifestyle securitylight from the first illumination mode to the second illumination mode.39. The lifestyle security light according to claim 37, wherein thesecond illumination level is programmed at a zero level.
 40. Thelifestyle security light according to claim 37, wherein during the firstillumination mode the motion sensor is temporarily deactivated.
 41. Thelifestyle security light according to claim 37, wherein the time settingalgorithm is an anytime setting method; wherein the user may select aspot time point or a preprogrammed forward time point to be the presetoperating time point, wherein when the controller receives a triggersignal, the controller operates to activate an anytime point subroutineto establish the preset operating time point in the memory of thecontroller for executing a 24-hour recurring program to manage theperformance of the LED light load to automatically convert from thefirst illumination mode to the second illumination mode on a dailyrepetitive basis at each 24-hour cycle point counting from an initialperformance of the first illumination mode upon activation of the presetoperating time point.
 42. The lifestyle security light according toclaim 41, wherein the preprogrammed forward time point for setting thepreset operating time point is implemented by a programmable timerincorporated with the external control device, wherein the programmabletimer allows the user to select a time delay or a clock time point foractivating the preset operating time point to operate the 24-hourrecurring program.
 43. The lifestyle security light according to claim42, wherein the preset operating time point is a clock time point;wherein the user may decide a desired clock time point to be the presetoperating time point and select a corresponding time length to set thetime delay with the programmable timer, wherein the time length of thetime delay is the difference between the desired clock time point andthe current clock time point.
 44. The lifestyle security light accordingto claim 41, wherein the trigger signal for setting the preset operatingtime point is a short power interruption signal.
 45. The lifestylesecurity light according to claim 44, wherein the short powerinterruption signal received by the controller is generated by turningoff and turning back on a power switch electrically coupled to thecontroller within a predetermined short time duration.
 46. The lifestylesecurity light according to claim 44, wherein the trigger signalreceived by the controller is generated by pushing a push button orpressing a touch pad configured in the external control unitelectrically connected to the controller for a short time duration. 47.The lifestyle security light according to claim 37, wherein the timesetting algorithm for setting the preset operating time point is a fixedtime point setting method, wherein a timer embedded in the controller isprogrammed to automatically adjust and set the time duration of thefirst illumination mode according to a data base of seasonal time shiftsuch that the security light is converted from the first illuminationmode to second illumination mode at a fixed time point.
 48. Thelifestyle security light according to claim 37, wherein the time settingalgorithm for setting the preset operating time point is a fixed timeperiod setting method, wherein an adjustable timer configured in theexternal control device is programmable by an user to set a time lengthof the fixed time period for the LED light load to continuously performthe first illumination mode before being converted to the secondillumination mode at the end of the fixed time period, wherein the timelength of the fixed time period is counted from the time point when thephoto sensor activates the security light to start performing the firstillumination mode till the time point the LED light load is converted tothe second illumination mode.
 49. The lifestyle security light accordingto claim 48, wherein the time length of the fixed time period isadjustable according to the user's life style.
 50. The lifestylesecurity light according to claim 37, wherein the time length of theshort predetermined time duration for performing the high levelillumination is adjustable according to user's lifestyle.
 51. Thelifestyle security light according to claim 37, wherein the illuminationlevel of the first low level illumination is further adjustableaccording to the user's lifestyle.
 52. The lifestyle security lightaccording to claim 37, wherein the illumination level of the second lowlevel illumination is further adjustable according to the user'slifestyle.
 53. The lifestyle security light according to claim 37,wherein the illumination level of the high level illumination is furtheradjustable according to the user's lifestyle.